January 22, 2021

MADISON, S.D. – Dakota State (S.D.) played its first game as a nationally-ranked team for the first time since the 2007-08 season Friday evening, visiting Waldorf (Iowa) in the North Star Athletic Association women's basketball contest at Hanson Fieldhouse.  The Trojans outscored the Warriors 39-26 in the second half, pulling away past the Warriors 78-57.  DSU outscored WU 49-9 in points off turnovers in the game.

Dakota State, who is ranked No. 24 in the latest NAIA Women's Basketball Coaches' Top 25 national poll, won their ninth straight game (tied fifth best consecutive wins in the school record book with the 1978-79 squad).  The Trojans, who did not play since Jan. 9, raised their overall record to 13-3 and remained undefeated in the North Star conference with a 5-0 record.

Waldorf dropped their overall record to 1-11 and 1-5 NSAA conference.  The Warriors lost their third straight game.  DSU had won 12 times in the last 14 meetings with WU, including the last four meetings.

Dakota State stays on the road Saturday afternoon, traveling to R.W. Beggs Gymnasium with another NSAA match-up with Viterbo (Wis.).  Tip-off is set for 3 p.m. in La Crosse, Wis.

(24) Dakota State (S.D.) 78, Waldorf (Iowa) 57 – FINAL

• Dakota State kicked off the game by scoring seven straight points, with five coming from Jessi Giles.  The Trojans earned a 7-0 lead after a basket by Giles with seven minutes and thirty-seven seconds on the clock.
• Waldorf answered with a 9-0 scoring run to earn their first lead of the game, thanks to six straight points by Tina Lair-VanMeter.  Taylor Moen added the next three points to give the Warriors a 9-7 lead with 4:07 to go in the first.
• DSU answered with another 7-0 scoring run, overtaking a 14-9 lead after a 3-pointer by Giles (assisted by Lexi Robson) with 1:45 left in the first period.
• WU closed the first quarter with a 5-1 run to cut DSU's lead to 15-14.  Both teams shot 31.6 percent from the field (5-of-16 field goals) in the first ten minutes of the game.
• The Trojans and the Warriors went through six lead changes and three ties in the first five-and-half minutes of the second quarter, with the lead no greater than three points by WU (22-19 with 7:10 left after a 3-pointer by Kinsey Tweedy).
• Trailing 27-24, Dakota State held Waldorf scoreless for more four minutes and fueled an 11-0 outburst.  Giles hit a 3-pointer to give Trojans' a 35-27 lead with 2:09 remaining before halftime. 
• DSU led 39-31 by halftime.  The Trojans outscored the Warriors 24-17 in the second quarter. 
• Waldorf shot 50 percent from the field in the first twenty minutes of the game (12-of-24 field goals) compared to Dakota State 40.5 percent (15-of-37 field goals).
• After a pair of free-throws by Giles to put DSU up 40-31, WU went on a 5-0 scoring run to cut the Trojans' lead to 40-36 after a basket by Lair-VanMeter with 8:09 on the clock in the third.
• Holding a 49-43 lead, the Trojans' defense held the Warriors scoreless in the final 4:04 of the third quarter.  DSU closed the third period with an 11-0 scoring run.
• Ashlyn Macdonald drained a 3-pointer to end the third quarter, stretching DSU's lead to 60-43.  Dakota State outscored Waldorf 21-12 in the third period.
• The Trojans maintained their double-digit lead for the rest of the game, leading as many as 25 points.  Morgan Koepsell hit back-to-back field goals (both assisted by Shaylee DeBeer), giving DSU its biggest lead of the game at 76-51 with 3:23 remaining.
• Giles led Dakota State with 19 points.  She was 5-of-9 from the field, including 4-of-7 from the field and converted 5-of-6 free-throws.  Koepsell added 13 points and grabbed six rebounds off the bench.  She was also 5-of-9 from the field and made 3-of-4 free-throws.
• DeBeer tallied nine points off the bench for DSU.  She also had three assists and stole the ball three times.  Elsie Aslesen had eight points and seven rebounds.  She had two blocks.
• Macdonald scored seven points and contributed four assists for the Trojans.  She had two steals.  Courtney Menning and Robson each had six points.  Cheylee Nagel pulled down had six rebounds.
• Lair-VanMeter posted a double-double of 28 points and earned 12 rebounds for Waldorf.  She was 13-of-17 from the field.  She also had four blocks and three assists.
• Bethany Rehse added 11 points for the Warriors.  Tweedy had six points, seven rebounds and four assists.  Nichole Oberthien dished out six assists. 
• Waldorf shot 46 percent from the field (23-of-50 field goals) compared to Dakota State 41.7 percent (30-of-72 field goals).  The Trojans made seven 3-pointers, while the Warriors hit six 3-pointers.  DSU converted 11-of-17 free-throws (64.7 percent).  WU was 5-of-6 free-throws (83.3 percent).
• WU outrebounded DSU 38-36.  The Trojans outscored the Warriors 40-28 inside the paint, 16-8 in second chance points and 32-5 in bench points.

Nick Huntimer, Dakota State University Sports Information Director